Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Major General Andrii Hnatov as the Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces to replace Lieutenant General Anatolii Barhylevych.
The decrees to dismiss Barhylevych and appoint Hnatov, published on the presidential website, did not specify the reasons for the replacement.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov wrote on Facebook that the reshuffle in the armed forces aims to enhance their combat effectiveness, Xinhua news agency reported.
“We are systematically transforming the Armed Forces of Ukraine to enhance their combat effectiveness,” Umerov said in a Facebook post, applauding a promotion that he said came at his recommendation.
Umerov noted that Hnatov has more than 27 years of military experience, having previously commanded a marine brigade, the troops of Operational Command East, and the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to a statement by the Ukrainian Defence Ministry, Barhylevych has been appointed chief inspector of the Ministry with the mission to ensure compliance with military standards and strengthen discipline within the armed forces.
